As far as SMPS design goes, I can demo this using an excel spreadsheet, and break the back of any spec for an general SMPS within some 30 minutes.....inductor values, RMS currents etc etc......and then do a representative simulation in another 20 mins max
....then obviously the feedback loop is a longer calculation, component selection, costing, and obviously PCB layout a day or more depending on spec, testing more time still, etc etc
So I can demo this skill "there and then" to anyone who wants to see it.
To design a general SMPS, there is no requirement for any maths other than "less than A level" standard.
Calculating the RMS of a CCM flyback primary current...easy....its a standard trapezoid wave shape and there is a fixed formula....I proved it by integration yonks ago so theres no need to keep doing the integration every time a new design is encountered.........
So for general SMPS design, there is no need for 3rd order differential equations, Laplace transforms etc...so what makes you think anyone wouldn't be able to do SMPS design?
Yes I ask lots of questions, and get great answers, but nobody ever knows everything about any facet of electronics, so "ask away" is my advice to anyone.
Most of my questions involve general stuff like when datasheets of PWM controllers don't give the internal r(pullup) resistor value, etc.
And forgive me, but it seems to me that you think that only "rocket scientists" can design an SMPS?....so what do you say to companies like Power integrations who do a web based design for people to get an SMPS designed when they don't have the knowledge...are they wrong?
I can show you a load of electronics consultancies that convince people that "other" people are no good at designing switchers, and that people should "Only" come to them for SMPS design...and pay them richly for their "rare and unobtainable" skills.
You say you buy in off the shelf switchers, and indeed we all do, nobody would design fresh if it exists off the shelf. But there are some products where there’s nothing quite right off the shelf, for shape/size/functionality reasons etc…mightn’t be at all difficult, but a new design is needed.
And even off the shelf switchers…why cant uk design these?..and manufacture them aswell?
I can think of a load of "middle men" who are getting minted (very rich) by being "middle man" and importing SMPS's from the Far East...these people would no doubt harp on about how UK staff are "useless" and "lazy"...of course they would say this, they are personally profiting big time by transferring the work overseas.....nobody else is profiting but them...the poor Far Eastern workers don't see much of the money, that's for sure.
If UK isn't going to start designing and manufacturing stuff, then what happens when the north sea oil runs out...UK will become a third world country, and those with enough money will emigrate to the USA.
What is the difference between UK and Greece?
...Greeks work harder, are generally better than UK at electronics, but Greece has no money because it has no north sea oil. After the oil runs out, because uk has no design and manufacture, we'll be like Greece and Portugal, and be in fact poorer than they are.